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Health Tips / Rehabilitation and Strapping

Rehabilitation

Advice from a Doctor or Physiotherapist should be sought before incresaing activity following an injury. Initially, gentle movement should be encouraged within the limits of pain. Such morements can be increased to gentle stretches, which can be either active (where the patient does selected stretching techniques), or passive (where another person puts the joint through the stretching movements).

Remember never to stretch in a jerky fashion as this may lead to further damage to the affected muscle or tissue. Stretching is important in order to prevent scar tissue from forming. Scar tissue may decrease the tissues flexibility and range of movement. Your doctor or physiotherapist will be able to devise a suitable stretching programme for your specific injury.

Strapping

Strapping is a simple way of providing support for the affected tissue while allowing a full range of natural movements for rehabilitation purposes. It also reduces swelling and inflammation.

Strapping can be achieved with an elasticated compression bandage or crepe bandage such as ELASTOCREPE. Adhesive elasticated bandages (ELASTOPLAST) , will provide more support but can restrict movement while non-elasticated strapping tapes restrict movement still further. These are generally only used for competition purposes. The use of PRORAP underneath the adhesive strapping will ensure easier and less painful removal. Care should be taken not to strap too tightly. Ideally, strapping should be completed by a trained professional.

Strapping can be carried out with an elasticated compression bandage or crepe bandage such as ELASTOCREPE. Tubular bandages such as TUBIGRIP are useful as they apply uniform pressure to the area and do not involve a complicated strapping technique. They come in a variety of sizes for different applications and are available in 0.5m and 1m lengths which can be cut or folded to size. Folding over will provide increased support and compression.

Anatomical supports are available for specific areas of the body. These are generally more useful later in the recovery process providing support when exercising on a recovering injury. Anatomical supports are available as elasticated cotton (PROSPORT and PROCARE ranges) or as more supportive but more expensive neoprene (PROCARE and VULKAN ranges). In some cases these may be reinforced with wire or metal splints to restrict movement in a particular direction, for example, in some cases of ligament damage in the knee or ankle.

Thermal supports (PROSPORT SUPATHERM range), which will increase body heat in the affected area are also available.

Physiotherapy Physiotherapy techniques including massage, ultrasound and interferential treatments are useful in the rehabilitation of an affected joint.

Excercise Gentle mobilisation prevents loss of muscle bulk and ensures rapid healing through increased blood flow to the area. Non-weight bearing exercise, such as swimming or cycling should be used initially. Weight bearing exercises, such as walking and light jogging can then be used as the injury improves. Stretching is very important to prevent shortening of muscles and tendons by scar tissue. As the injury improves resistance (light weights) can be added to the programme. Once the injury is healed, heavier weights, at lower repetitions are used to rebuild muscle strength.

For serious injury always consult your doctor or physiotherapist. To find a Chartered Physiotherapist in your area check www.cppp.ie